IHC acquits Maryam Nawaz, Capt (retd) Safdar in Avenfield reference
ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz and Capt (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference on Thursday.
The two-member bench comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani nullified the sentences awarded by the accountability courts.
During the hearing, Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that the NAB had formed the complete case on the reply of the Sharif family and it could not prove it. "The NAB is presenting two documents from London as evidence. How can a criminal be formed on it?" he observed.
NAB Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar contended that Nawaz Sharif had concealed these properties through Maryam.
In the two-page short order, the court stated that the instant appeals are allowed and the judgment dated 06-07-2018 is set aside to the extent of appellants, namely Maryam Safdar and Capt (R) Muhammad Safdar. It said the conviction awarded is set aside and appellants are acquitted of the charges against them in reference No.20/2017. The reason of this to be recorded later.
The accountability court had awarded total eight-year sentence to Maryam Nawaz while one-year sentence was given to Capt (retd) Safdar.
The two-member bench comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani nullified the sentences awarded by the accountability courts.
During the hearing, Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that the NAB had formed the complete case on the reply of the Sharif family and it could not prove it. "The NAB is presenting two documents from London as evidence. How can a criminal be formed on it?" he observed.
NAB Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar contended that Nawaz Sharif had concealed these properties through Maryam.
A few weeks before the 2018 elections, the accountability judge, who was working under the supervision of an apex court judge, convicted the Sharif family in the Avenfield apartment reference.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was handed 10 years as jail time for owning assets beyond known income and one year for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Maryam was given seven-year for abetment and one year for non-cooperation with the bureau.
The Sharif family had filed appeals against its conviction before the IHC in the second week of August 2018.
